Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 7

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

Previous week’s ranking in brackets.

1. KA YING RISING (1)

Last Start: September 6, HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (HK) (1st)

How are they going to beat him! Hong Kong superstar & reigning Everest champ who will remain well clear at the top of these rankings right up until race day & that’s an absolute given! His return to the track at Sha Tin recently was simply outstanding taking almost a full second off his 1200m track record clocking an unbelievable 1.06.11. He arrived in Sydney on Monday (21/9) & served time in quarantine. His much-anticipated barrier trial took place at Randwick on Tuesday morning (6/10) against a star-studded bunch of rivals. Straight to the front from his wide draw he coasted along with the ears pricked, pairing out with eventual winner Ninja there was little between them on the line with neither pushed out, they had a further 2.7L gap on the rest. Track was rated a soft (7), keep in mind he’s clearly at his best on good/firm going. To my eye this was a better performance than his corresponding effort last year. Jockey Zac Purton commented post-trial he would benefit greatly from the hit out.

2. TEMPTED (2)

Last Start: October 3, Premiere Stakes (1st)

Now 4yo mare who chased home Ka Ying Rising in this race last year beaten just over a length when in receipt of 7.5kg from the Hong Kong champ. Now a proven form line as she joins him having remained undefeated in the autumn winning all 3 starts which included her Group 1 breakthrough in the Surround Stakes. Victorious first up in the Concorde showing a neat ‘turn of foot’ clocking a 10.2 second split between the 400-200m before being given an easy time over the final 100m. Keep in mind the weight gap between her & Ka Ying Rising this time around will be slashed to 2kg under the weight-for-age scale which certainly makes her task a tougher one however to the eye she’s improved over the break (so has Ka Ying Rising) …! What a performance on Saturday winning the Premiere & stamping herself as the logical & likely only rival to the Hong Kong champ. 7 lengths off the lead at the top of the straight she unleashed a monster finish clocking a sub 22 second final 400m sectional on a soft (6) track! That finishing burst gave me Sheza Alibi Doncaster vibes steaming down the outside, scintillating stuff! Clear second favourite & she fully deserves to be.

3. JOLIESTAR (3)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (2nd)

Super mare who’s been successful at the highest level on 5 occasions. She had three local runs last prep winning them all before being sent to Royal Ascot where she was far from disgraced clocking in a narrowly beaten third in a very tight QE II Jubilee Stakes finish. She’s had two previous attempts at this race beaten the same margin (1.6L) on each occasion, both were very respectable efforts. With a couple of trials under her belt she resumed in The Shorts which was expected to be a great Everest guide with her & other highly rated hopefuls going around however the race panned out a sprint home with $19 shot Mazu prevailing. She sat 3 deep without cover throughout & kept finding the line showing all her customary fight to grab a late second. She went around in the Ninja/Ka Ying Rising trial at Randwick on Tuesday (6/10) finishing just over 3 lengths away with J. Mac keeping her under a very tight hold. She had plenty to offer however that energy is being saved up for Everest Day & I’d say she’s spot on.

4. JIMMYSSTAR (4)

Last Start: September 27, Manikato Stakes (1st)

3-time Group 1 winner who is the owner of a big finishing burst. His pattern is to get back in his races & often needs luck getting through the field or tempo to suit, pretty much the tale of woe for every backmarker! Connections rolled the dice last year in this race pushing forward, unfortunately he couldn’t get in ending up parked wide throughout, honest as ever he toughed it out right to the line to hold down third spot. He disappointed on face value first up in the Memsie, the jury was out, had we seen the best of him? With the blinkers going on for the first time he answered that question in no uncertain terms mowing down his opposition to land the Manikato at Caulfield smashing the sectional clock running a sub 22 second final 400m, the only horse in the race to accomplish that feat. He’s back big time & will be nice & fresh for the big one with 3 weeks between starts.

5. NINJA (7)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (9th)

Missile Stakes winner first up who should have plenty of improvement to come. Very well fancied in The Shorts next start he too was a victim of the lack of tempo which handed the race to Mazu who led throughout. Add to that, he sat well back & 4 deep throughout suggesting we completely forgive the run. It’s not easy beating Ka Ying Rising in anything, very few have managed it however this one did in Tuesday’s (6/10) Randwick trial pairing out with the defending champ & just having the better of him over the concluding stages. Not surprisingly his odds shortened up soon after however he’s still well into double-figures. Keep in mind he is one who will comfortably handle wet or dry conditions.

6. HEADWALL (6)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (5th)

After a 12-month injury enforced break, he returned in the race he won last year, the Concorde Stakes. Back worse than midfield at the top of the straight he had eventual winner Tempted to his outside, whilst that mare went wider with her finish, he was sent looking for gaps & weaved through successfully before running into traffic near the 200m. Whilst he was treading a little water, she was really letting down with a big dash & raced to a clear lead. Loved the way he picked up the pieces though & dashed home late. His effort in The Shorts second-up was inconclusive as his task was basically impossible trying to make ground against the race tempo. To the eye he peaked near the 100m however was only one of two runners in the race to break 22 seconds their final 400m. Another to go around in the star-studded trial at Randwick on Tuesday (6/10). Tucked in nearest the inside behind the speed he held his ground down the straight given an easy time. Didn’t mind him missing the Premiere last Saturday as it keeps him fresh for the big day, he’ll be 4 weeks between runs which suits.

7. ANGEL CAPITAL (8)

Last Start: September 19, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1st)

Very much maligned galloper who hasn’t done punters any favours in recent seasons. Whilst I don’t think he can win an Everest he’s amongst friends here with Ka Ying Rising basically ticking every single box. On his day he could figure though & his win at Caulfield might be a confidence booster. I’d be more confident of him filling a placing had we been looking at 1400m however freshened up he’s not without some chance. He finished next to his stablemate Joliestar in Tuesday’s (6/10) all important Randwick trial going to the line under just as good a hold as the mare.

8. THE NEXT EPISODE (-)

Last Start: October 3, Danehill Stakes (1st)

Rising star from the Ciaron Maher stable who resumed with a dominant Flemington win on Saturday against his own age. The jury was out as his trials had only been so-so however on race day it was a whole different story with Mark Zahra holding him up for as long as possible timing his finish to perfection mowing down his rivals on the line. He ran the quickest final 400/200m splits of the meeting & will get into the Everest nice & light as a 3yo. Will connections head that way though, will there be a slot for him?

9. OVERPASS (9)

Last Start: April 4, T. J. Smith Stakes (4th)

Bjorn Baker trained galloper with plenty of Everest experience having already gone around in the big race on 3 occasions. Best finishing effort to date was last year when beaten 1.5 lengths clocking in 4th. He gave the Hong Kong champ Ka Ying Rising plenty to run down still in front & looking a huge chance 200m out. He’s had two trials to get him ready, the latest of those (29/9) when proving too speedy at Hawkesbury. Should he make it 4 Everest appearances he’ll be going in first up.

10. BLUE DOOR (-)

Last Start: September 26, Heritage Stakes (1st)

First to admit I was a huge wrap for this 3yo filly, buoyant she could measure up to strong company. She showed plenty at her short, sharp, initial prep & had trialled well leading into this one. To be honest I was disappointed in her first & second starts of the campaign leading comfortably before being run down over the concluding stages. She proved me wrong third up showing sustained speed to lead throughout however looking back that was an inferior race. Can she win an Everest? I’d be shocked if she did however she’s a slot holder so she’s assured of a run, into the top 10 she goes!

CHANGES

IN –     THE NEXT EPISODE & BLUE DOOR

OUT – GUEST HOUSE & MAZU




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